Well THAT was unexpected. And fantastic. WHAT a great read. Saffron is a great MC and I love her perseverance and pluck and determination. Lee is the perfect foil for her and while I despise a love triangle, I can see this one only because Alexander was in book 1 and then left with no words of promise or love, so when Lee enters the picture...well, in this case, I can just see how and why it happens [though I hope it doesn't meander on and on - Saffron is a better MC than that and deserves more than a shoddy love triangle]. I like Alexander, but my GOSH that man needs some help. Seriously.

The whole mystery was just that for me - a mystery. I was completely snowed and even at the end/reveal, I was [and still am not] sure exactly what happened and just who the killer was. I mean I know, but....

It was a glorious read and I am fully in love with this series. SO. WELL. DONE.

I was lucky enough to also get an audiobook ARC for this and it was just fantastic. Jodie Harris is an outstanding narrator and truly brings this whole book to life; I know I have enjoyed this series even more because of the narration. I highly recommend listening to these books - it is a really great experience.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kate Khavari, Jodie Harris - Narrator, Crooked Lane Books and Dreamscape Media for providing the audiobook and eBook ARCS in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed A Botanist’s Guide to Parties and Potions - so I was elated to see Saffron Everleigh was at it again. While embarking on her first research study with the charming Dr. Michael Lee, Saffron finds herself working with Inspector Green to help solve possibly connected homicides in the area. All of the victims were women who received bouquets just before their deaths, and that is where Saffron’s botany expertise comes in. Each bouquet is distinct, and the language of flowers might hold clues to figuring out the murderer’s identity.

Like before, Saffron doesn’t know when to quit and finds herself revisiting the affluent society she happily left behind. Befriending the victims’ friends, Saffron, along with partner Lee begins to question who to trust. They work to piece together a timeline with clues from conversations as they traipse along with high society from the theatre to jazz clubs on the fringe of proper. Saffron and Lee find drug use has gone rampant and everyone has secrets.

A Botanist’s Guide to Flowers and Fatality is full of twists and turns and is overall a light-hearted read despite the content. It reminds me of Enola Holmes, with a clever and witty heroine hell bent on making her way in world not ready for that level of female independence. The whole love triangle between Saffron, Lee, and Alexander (from the previous book) is a little annoying and not necessary to the story, but didn’t detract me from finishing it. I wish Elizabeth, Saffron’s flatmate, had a greater role—perhaps in the next book.

thank you to Crooked Lane Books. & Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book

I found this book to be quite slow, which I am often not a fan of, including in this case. I found myself putting it down and not wanting to pick it back up. I will say that when I would finally pick it back up I didn't dislike it. I liked the setting. I did not like the love triangle.

Side note: the formatting of the eARC was honestly awful. With the page numbers and title in the middle of the pages on Kindle.

Thanks to Crooked Lane Books, Netgalley and the author for an ARC of this book. I am leaving this unbiased review voluntarily.

I absolutely loved the first book of this series, so when the opportunity came up to read the second I was full of glee and trepidation. What if the second book didn't weight up to the first? What if the fact that Saffron would not have Alexander Ashton by her side make this instalment boring? Well, I needn't have worried because this author is one talented writer and I was entertained and intrigued the entire way through.

I loved the partnership between Lee and Saffron, and the complicated relationship they had. And the mystery was so twisty that I could barely keep up.

The book is written so well that the reader finds themselves immersed completely in the post-war world, when scientific discoveries could be a double-edged sword (you'll have to read this book to find out what I mean by that) and Saffron is such a wonderful, individual and complex character that I just can't wait to find out what she does next.

Hats off to the character of Elizabeth for comic relief and the representation of a true friend. She's one I want to read more about in the future.

A great read, that I finished in one sitting. Eagerly anticipating the third.

This is the second case in which the lovely Saffron Everleigh is involved. With her partner Lee, who will not be called by his forename but only his surname, decide to become more involved in the case than was first agreed. They study the bouquets which are sent to the victims to see some sort of explanation. Still confused Saffron and Lee decide to become great actors in order to get close to the people that have been involved in the victim's lives and are suspects in the case.
Again, the pace of this mystery is steady and comical in places!. I adore Saffron Everleigh, she's a woman who knows what she wants and is determined to help the Inspector as he was the one to reach out to her in the first p!ace! . Lee is another character who has stolen my heart!. He's a cheeky little devil who adds a lot of humour to the story. He gets away with a lot!!. Of course, the team would not be complete without Elizabeth, Saffron's best friend and flat mate!. She's once again becoming involved in Saffron's life,whether it be home or work!!. I loved the conclusion. I was wrong again!.
You will find by the time you get to the end of this book, you will be desperate for the next mystery..,
I received a free ARC book for an honest review.
#Netgalley, #crookedlanebooks, #authorkkhavari.

Saffron Everleigh has worked hard, defied her family, and found success at a time and place where women were relegated to fetching coffee, typing notes, and running a home. Were it not for her hard-headed determination and brilliant mind, she’d still be doing all of those things. Instead, she is a researcher at University College with her own office and a research grant. That grant comes with a partner, Dr. Lee, who is handsome, suave, and very dedicated to medicine. Their task is to investigate poisonings from poisonous plants and to document the plant, its location, the effect on the person who was poisoned, etc. Saffron is very excited about the project because it means she’ll have a published paper before she even starts her masters program at the university.

If you read the first book, you’ll remember Inspector Green who was constantly trying to keep Saffron out of his investigation. This time, he’s come to her asking for help. It seems there have been three murders – all by different methods – but all victims received strange flower arrangements prior to or at the time of their deaths. The murders are all definitely related – but how – and what prompted these strange bouquets? The inspector is interested in having Saffron identify the plants – which she does. She also discovers the old meanings (floriography) of the different plants and passes that along as well.

Being Saffron, she also inveigles more information from the Inspector and takes it upon herself to begin investigating – even bringing a reluctant Dr. Lee into it. They trek through dingy clubs where drugs are as prevalent as alcohol, and they befriend people who have much to hide. Who among the denizens of this dark world could have wanted three people dead? Or, are they even looking in the right place?

I’m definitely a romantic and I just have to have a romance in my mysteries. I’m not sure where this series is headed in that area, but I’m ready for the male romantic lead to be settled. I’m not one for the will-they/won’t-they scenario and that is what this is so far. Yes, this is only the second book, but we should have a pretty clear view of where this is headed by now – and we don’t. I’m pretty sure Dr. Lee is currently out of the romantic picture and Ashton may or may not be. I’m guessing Ashton will be the romantic lead, especially with how the third book is set up at the end of this one – but – you never know.

As for Saffron, I have to wonder a bit about her. She is brilliant and dedicated, but she seems to be oblivious to the feelings of those around her – at least the male portion of the population. They are all supposed to be totally supportive and understanding of her, but she seems to have no clue about them. For instance – Dr. Lee wanted to drop out of the investigation – so she just got angry with him rather than wondering (or asking) what the reason was. Then, there is Ashton with PTSD and she doesn’t seem to want to make any allowances for his feelings of protectiveness or his personal battles with flashbacks. Yes, he has a real problem with actually expressing his feelings, but she doesn’t seem to care enough about him to delve into why any of that might be. While I find her mind to be very sharp, I find her heart to be a tad slow, selfish, and dull. I’m hoping that will change with the next book.

I recommend this book and this series and I hope you will enjoy it. There are plenty of twists and turns, lots of red herrings, plenty of danger for all of our characters, and a thoroughly satisfying wrap-up for the villain. Then, of course, there is the set-up for the next book and I can’t wait to see where that one leads us. BTW – you do not have to have read the first book to enjoy this one – however, I believe it will add much to your enjoyment of this book if you understand more about Saffron’s journey to get to where she is now.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was not for me. The characters are insufferable and I had no internet in getting to know more about them. I'm hoping this is a hit for someone but it was a DNF for me.

What a lovely and delightful story! Saffron Everleigh is back, ready to take on the world. She and her partner Lee have been working together collecting information on poisonous plants and their effects on people. However, inspector Green comes to her with a request for help. Women are dying after being given bouquets of flowers. It is up to her and Lee to try and find the connections. Full of surprises, you won’t want to miss this adventure! The narrator was great and the story was very well done!

In 1920s London, Saffron Everleigh, a botanist at University College is in a better place than she was a few months ago after her near death from poisoning. Her lecherous and corrupt Head of Department, Dr Berking is in prison and has been replaced with Dr Aster, who treats her, the only female researcher in the Botany department, with more respect. Not only does she have a promotion and an office but he has assigned her a research project to carry out alongside a doctor, looking at cases of poisoning by plants in the community. Dr Michael Lee is currently sharing her office while they work on the project together over the summer break, following up reports of poisoning from contact with plants. Dr Lee collects information on the symptoms while Saffron identifies the plant responsible.

Dr Lee is both handsome and charming, however Saffron often finds him annoying as he is less serious about the study than she is, keeps a very messy desk and doesn’t like paper work. She is also missing Alexander Ashton with whom she shared the beginnings of a romance when they previously uncovered a poisoner. He is still away on the department’s field trip to Brazil where she hopes he is also collecting a list of plants to bring back for her.

When Inspector Green contacts her to ask her to look at bouquets of flowers sent to two murdered women before their deaths, she notices some unusual choices of poisonous flowers in the bouquets. Some sleuthing into the Victorian meaning of flowers (floriography) unveils messages being sent to the women, possibly giving the reasons they were murdered. Together with Saffron’s friend Elizabeth, Lee and Saffron decide to get close to the friends of one of the murdered women, who spend their time with an unusual wealthy clique, known to frequent the fast and flashy Blue Room jazz club.

This sequel to ‘A Botanists Guide to Parties and Poisons’ is another twisty mystery. The plot is a slow burn, carefully constructed with a number of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing to the end. The historical era works well, with a good feel for the structure of society and the hedonism of the time between world wars, as well as the restrictions Saffron faces as a woman in an academic world dominated by men. Saffron is an unusual protagonist for the era; a strong minded and independent woman who has shrugged off her place in high society and is courageous enough to take on the role of amateur detective and put herself in danger. Although, she finds Lee’s easy charm and cheekiness annoying, the chemistry between them is hard to deny and she finds herself caught in the middle of a love triangle when Alexander returns unexpectedly early from Brazil. The end of the novel sees Saffron contemplating the important decisions she will have to make about her future life and work. Recommended to all those who enjoy a historical mystery with a touch of romance.

A Botanist’s Guide to Flowers and Fatality is a great historical mystery with a plant-y twist.

This book intrigued me when I stumbled upon it on NetGalley. I love a good mystery and, in particular, historical mysteries. This is the second book in the Saffron Everleigh Mystery, # 2 series. If you are like me and haven’t read the first book in the series, you might feel a little lost in the first few chapters. It took me a few chapters to get my bearings in Saffron’s world and understand who is who and what has happened leading up to this book. But once I felt settled, I enjoyed the story, its characters, and the mystery Saffron is trying to solve. First, I have to say how much I love that this book takes place in the 1920's. It's such a unique time period to visit and one that I don’t get to spend too much time in. In this book Saffron and her new colleague Michael find themselves investigating different poisoning cases throughout England. These smaller poisoning cases were an interesting side story to the overall book. Sometimes I forget how toxic plants can be, and I found myself interested in learning all about these poisonous plants.

The main mystery follows the death of several women who have all received a deadly flower bouquet before their untimely demise. Saffron has been called in to help figure out the significance of the flower bouquet in these murders. The main mystery itself was intriguing enough. However, sometimes it got lost in the overall story, and the story itself lost focus at times. It made it hard to keep track of what was going on. It was incredibly clever and unique to add in the flower component to the main mystery. Saffron dives deep into flower language and uncovers the message the killer sent their victims through flowers.

One of the highlights of this book was the interactions between Saffron and Michael. Their banter and chemistry were addictive, and I wish they had spent more time together in this book. I’m hoping future books have these two spending more time together.

A Botanist’s Guide to Flowers and Fatality is an exciting and easy mystery to get lost in.

Content warning: murder, people being drugged, people being poisoned, kidnapping

Picking up after the events of A BOTANIST'S GUIDE TO PARTIES AND POISONS, readers find Saffron Everleigh sharing an office (reluctantly) with Dr. Lee as they work on documenting cases of people being poisoned. But because it's Saffron, but after Detective Inspector Green comes to her asking for her assistance in identifying the flowers in the bouquets that have been delivered to women who end up murdered, Saffron is pulled back into trying to track a killer (with Dr. Lee's help) before the killer finds her.

I found A BOTANIST'S GUIDE TO FLOWERS AND FATALITY a satisfying sequel with plenty of thrills to keep readers interested. The plot twists were good, I thought the overall mystery that was solved was interesting, and I loved the dynamic between Saffron and Dr. Lee. And just as things are getting complicated between Saffron and Dr. Lee, a familiar face from book one shows up again to make matters all the more complicated (and all the more enjoyable for readers).

While plot points are mostly resolved by the end, Khavari does leave readers on a bit of a cliff waiting to find out what happens next. So I'll be over here anxiously waiting for the next book in this series.

Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Kate Khavari for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for A Botanist's Guide to Flowers and Fatality coming out June 6, 2023. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

1920s London isn’t the best place for a smart woman with high ambitions. But research assistant Saffron Everleigh is determined to make it in a male-dominated field at the University College of London. Saffron embarks on her first official research study alongside the insufferably charming Dr. Michael Lee, traveling the countryside with him in response to reports of poisonings. But when Detective Inspector Green is given an unusual case, he asks for Saffron’s assistance.

The victims, all women, received bouquets of poisonous flowers. Digging deeper, Saffron finds out that the bouquets may be more than just unpleasant flowers— there may be a hidden message within them, revealed through the use of the old Victorian practice of floriography. A dire message, indeed, as each woman who received the flowers is now dead.

Alongside Dr. Lee and her best friend, Elizabeth, Saffron tracks numerous suspects through a swanky jazz club, a wealthy country estate, and a glittering theatre, diving deeper into a part of society she thought she’d escaped. 

Will Saffron be able to sniff out the murderer before they send their next death bouquet, or will she find herself with flowers of fatality of her own?

I actually loved this one more than the first book! I think the first book did a lot of world building and getting to know the characters, so this one felt more familiar and got right into the action. I love Saffron’s go-getting attitude. She’s trying to make a career for herself in a place that is predominantly male. This book had a bit of romance and I really loved that aspect of it. I love Lee’s character. I think he’s funny and flawed. Saffron and Lee are definitely fun together, but have their layers. I’m excited if there’s another book in the series!

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys 1920s murder mysteries!

The second Saffron Everleigh historical mystery was an engaging look at the 1920s. Saffron faces prejudice as she tries to make a place for herself as a botanist at University College in London where the old boys' network isn't eager to let her in.

She and Dr. Michael Lee are engaged in a study of poisonous plants in England. They are often sent into the countryside when accidental poisonings occur where they combine their knowledge of medicine and botany.

When Chief Inspector Green calls in Saffron to take a look at bouquets left at the scenes of murders of upper-class women, Saffron is drawn into her second police investigation. The first one (A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poison) almost killed her but her curiosity has been aroused and so has her desire to help. Saffron realizes that the flowers are conveying messages in the old Victorian floriography language, and the messages are chilling.

Saffron and Lee soon find themselves visiting the jazz clubs the victims frequented. The clubs are filled with upper class people or those who are hangers-on who are drinking and taking drugs and generally trying to have a good time. They find a range of suspects as they try to unravel the clues to who wanted each victim dead.

Saffron is also dealing with man troubles. She has started to like Lee despite his messy habits and bonhomie. But she is also still corresponding with Alexander Ashton who was her partner in her first investigation and who is currently on an expedition to the Amazon. When Alexander returns, her man troubles escalate but both men are there at the story's climactic moments.

I enjoyed this mystery. I thought the setting was well-developed. I liked Saffron's determination to solve the mystery and build her own career. I also liked the preview to Saffron's next case provided by the ending of the story when Alexander's brother comes to him with a problem. I really want to know what happens next.

Still enjoying this series, I’m happy to say. I was unsure about the introduction of a new romantic option for Saffron, bringing a love triangle into the story, but Lee grew on me - and Ashton, unfortunately, did the opposite. (Let a girl investigate dangerous crime if she wants to, man!)

The mystery plot is a little sloppier than the first book but still worked pretty well for me, and the whole story, whether focused on murders, romance, or good old poisonous plants, kept me engaged from beginning to end. Looking forward to book 3 (which is pretty starkly set up at the end of this one)!

Thank you to the publisher for the advance review copy!

The story line is brilliant no boring parts and kept me guessing to the end. Great author Can't wait for the next one!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Murder macabre!

Oh my goodness! This second foray into the perils of ingenious botanist Saffron Everleigh is as mind bending as the first.
Alexander Ashton, whom Saffron is strongly attracted to, the botanist who helped with tracking down the people who’d tried to poison her, is now off in Bolivia with the University College of London’s expedition into the Amazon. Saffron tries valiantly to read tender messages into his scientific letters.
Since her close call with death and the unveiling of the culprit, Saffron has been granted a research position in the University’s Botany Department. This doesn’t mean that her male colleagues give her any more respect. In fact the very opposite is the problem.
Saffron’s been paired with Dr. Lee to research further into poisons and their effects. They are working together “to examine the effects of certain local botanical toxins more specifically.”
Only now Inspector Green needs their help. A woman’s been found dead with an unusual bouquet of flowers nearby.
Green needs Saffron to identify any possible poisonous blooms and Dr Lee to identify the cause of any symptoms. The bouquet includes of a pomegranate branch, foxgloves, buttercup, aconite and other delights.
The hunt for relevance, for possible perpetrators will take Saffron and Lee into the more racy clubs of London haunted by the elite. A dangerous choice, but as the stakes rise Saffron finds herself going forward relentlessly. As others receive deadly bouquets the chase becomes critical.
Lee has reasons for wanting to bow out as one person they meet is the enigmatic and dangerous Lord Vale. A man his Uncle Matt, the Baron Carmichael, an influential politician had warned Lee against. By the way, Saffron is the granddaughter of Lord Easting, of Ellington in Bedford. He is friends with Lee’s Uncle Matt. Saffron’s grandfather doesn’t approve of her work.
Clever, and intricately woven, the plot takes us into places of danger. It pulls us into wondering about old and newly discovered relationships, leaving Saffron at least unclear about either.

A Crooked Land ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

3.5 Stars

When I requested this ARC, I wasn't aware that this was a sequel. I read it anyway as the book was readable without reading the first book. I found the MCs to be enjoyable to read about, though the side characters could've been fleshed out a bit more. I originally thought Saffron and Lee would play a bigger part in the overall investigation, I enjoyed the things they did do anyway. I hoped there would be a bit more romantic development between Saffron and Lee, as there was a good amount of tension but it ultimately went nowhere (technically). However, the overall reading experience was great

I loved the first installment in the Saffron Everleigh series, and this one is an excellent second chapter. I've discovered that while I love a good murder mystery that is set in present times, there is a certain charm about ones set in the past. The lack of modern technology adds a suspense to the book in an intriguing way, and even if the story develops a bit slower, it is still a page turner. This is the case with Flowers and Fatality, and I am so glad that Khavari has chosen to bring back Saffron for another adventure.

A BOTANIST'S GUIDE TO FLOWERS AND FATALITY is Kate Khavari's 2nd installment of The Saffron Everleigh Mysteries and I loved it just as much as the first!

Saffron is continuing in her research assistant role in the University College of London despite having to continually prove her worth in this 1920's culture. She has been helping Dr. Lee in accidental poisoning reports when Inspector Green asks for help in a case where bouquets of flowers are being left with murder victims. When Saffron identifies both the poisonous nature of the flowers as well as the Victorian era practice of floriography, she can't help but delve deeper into the mystery. Her best friend Elizabeth helps her to process it all and as they get closer to the truth, Saffron herself may be at risk of a fatal bouquet!

I have really enjoyed reentering Saffron Everleigh's world! With a long unused degree in horticulture, I love the plant and flower discussion and felt it was informative without getting into the weeds (pun intended). I had no clue about the whodunit or the full motives until the reveals, and thoroughly enjoyed the ride. I also had a fun time with the romantic tension Saffron experienced and absolutely loved the ending. It felt right for this character. I am excited to keep following Saffron in her adventures!

I paired this digital arc with the audiobook and loved the audio! Jodie Harris does a phenomenal job with the various characters and listening at 2x speed, I had no issues at all following the action or changing voices. I love the accents and wish I could do them justice in my head when I read without the audio!

Both formats were great and I would absolutely recommend any format when this story is available on June 6th! The cover is so gorgeous, this series will make a stunning shelf addition.

I was sad to miss Kate's visit to my bookstore, but I hope she comes again when I am in town! I love coming to author chats and supporting both local shops and authors!

A huge thank you to @crookedlanebooks @netgalley and @dreamscape_media for the advance copies of this story and letting me share my thoughts.

This was a fun second outing with amateur detective and botanist Saffron Everleigh, a post WWI Londoner whose expertise in plants has her tapped in by the police to help solve a murder mystery. With poisonous bouquets! There was a lot to like about this novel, whether it's Saffron's tenacious spirit, the so well done time and place that Khavari evokes, or the fantastic insights into societal customs from more than a century ago. I really loved how Khavari brought floriography, or the language of the flowers, into the story, as the using flowers as communication custom has fascinated me since I worked at the Ramsey House. But it's also the perfect device to bring Saffron into a well thought out and unique murder mystery. I also liked the addition of the sardonic and charming Dr. Michael Lee, a fellow researcher who has become Saffron's research partner and also fellow amateur detective as they dive into the upper class of London to try and figure out who is killing women from wealthy circles, with snide bouquets left at the scenes. My one issue was a cobbled together love triangle between Saffron, her previous love interest Alexander, and Lee, as Saffron doesn't need this kind of silly conflict to keep her interesting. If anything it made the story a little more stilted, and it painted all players (ESPECIALLY ALEXANDER, my goodness) in a bad light. It really off set the strength of the rest of it, which was a bit of a shame.

It was fun diving back into this cozy mystery series! Khavari has already set up the next one at the end, and I will be interested to see where Saffron is going from here.